Shén Nóng B¿nc¿o J¿ng: The Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica
This long-awaited English translation and critical edition of The Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica by well-known medical historian and translator Dr. Sabine Wilms is a product of her triple engagement with the worlds of applied Chinese medicine, academic sinology, and sustainable agriculture. The 365 substances covered are categorized in three books, associated with Heaven, Humanity, and Earth respectively. Coming from the perspective of alchemy and the pursuit of health and longevity, treating disease and expelling pathogens by ingesting substances that have a strong directly-discernible effect on the body is viewed as the lowest goal. By contrast, the higher-ranked medicinals often have no discernible effect when ingested, but especially when taken over long periods of time have such ambitious and intangible goals as connecting the human spirit to heaven, lightening the body, or staving off aging. The information contained in this book and the vision of the world and of the effect of natural substances on the human body expressed here are bound to inspire any practitioner of the Chinese art of y¿ngsh¿ng ¿¿ ("nurturing life").

Sabine Wilms is the author and translator of more than a dozen books on Chinese medicine. With a PhD in East Asian Studies and Medical Anthropology, she specializes in bringing ancient Chinese wisdom to life. In addition to writing, translating, and publishing her work through her company Happy Goat Productions, she lectures at conferences and schools around the world and is on the faculty at the College of Classical Chinese Medicine at the National University of Natural Medicine. Some of her favorite topics are gynecology, pediatrics, medical ethics, and "nurturing life," as envisioned by the great medieval "King of Medicinals" Sun Simiao, in addition to such Han dynasty classics as the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic (Huang Di Nei Jing) and the Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing). With a strong academic background in early Chinese philosophy, science, cosmology, and language, she is known for her historically and culturally sensitive approach to Chinese Medicine but also sees it as a living, effective, ever-changing, and much needed response to the issues of our modern times. She lives happy as a clam on Mutiny Bay on Whidbey Island near Seattle.